LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced today he has appointed Gaye Williams as his new Chief of Staff. Williams, who has served as Senior Managing Director in the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Business Policy as well as Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Relations to Mayor Richard Riordan, will serve as Chief of Staff for the remainder of Mayor Villaraigosa’s term.
“Gaye Williams is a consummate professional who has served in city, county and state government with the highest integrity,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “In these next two years, we will aggressively pursue our agenda and deliver the results we promised in 2005, and when we were reelected in 2009. Together, we are laying the foundation for a new, world-class transportation system, we are increasing
graduation rates, reducing crime and our carbon footprint. I am confident Gaye will lead this administration well, and will empower my staff to deliver results.”
Williams brings more than 30 years of public sector management experience to Mayor Villaraigosa’s office. She most recently served as Senior Managing Director in the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Business Policy. In this role, she helped drive job creation policies in Los Angeles such as the Internet business tax holiday, the new business tax holiday and the City’s local preference policy.
”The Villaraigosa Administration has boldly focused its agenda on our City’s toughest challenges: public safety, traffic, our failing schools, protecting our environment, and – particularly after the historic economic downturn – job creation. The Mayor has made incredible progress, and I am honored to join his team at this critical juncture for the Administration.”
Prior to her role in the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Business Policy, Williams served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the City Attorney’s Office and as Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Relations for Mayor Richard Riordan.
Williams also served as director of Governor Pete Wilson’s Los Angeles office as city, state and federal agencies worked to recover from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in record time. Before her role in the Wilson administration, Williams worked as Assistant Chief Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Deane Dana.
Williams replaces the Rev. Jeff Carr, who resigned after two years as Villaraigosa’s Chief of Staff.
The appointment will be effective July 25, 2011.
